Izuku took a deep breath, he stared at the files in front of him spread on a desk and he felt his heart sink as he tried once again to organize his thoughts.
August 8th was supposed to be a good day, it was Iguchi-San's birthday and Izuku was rushing around trying to get his tasks for the day over so he could spare some time and pop in for a few minutes for the party, Kaori-Chan had gone out of her way to invite him and he could use the distraction from his life if he was being honest.
But as things seemed to be going as of recently for him, nothing was that easy and just as he was about to text Kurogiri to drop him off at his apartment complex when he got called from someone from his work phone, it was from the Vespas in the South Side.
The woman had been called him on a whim after she saw Dabi rushing out of the South Side despite it being his day off and had followed him to a building, then Dabi had come rushing out with Iguchi-San who had a bad stab wound.
Izuku had told her to keep with them and he'd be there as soon as possible. He texted Kurogiri and went straight to the apartment complex then all but ran out to find Dabi and Iguchi-San to make sure they were alright.
It hadn't taken long and Izuku was stitching up the stab wound on Iguchi's back while Dabi was carefully watching the two pints of AB- blood as they went into Iguchi-San's arm and a rag pressed to the scratches on his face.
Iguchi-San wasn't conscious enough for Izuku to get much out of him and Dabi only appeared after the fact, as Dabi patched himself up he told Izuku about meeting this double that looked and had Iguchi-San's voice in the building that the double was who had probably stabbed Iguchi-San.
Izuku nodded along and once he was done stitching up Iguchi-San and got out some pain meds for the man he called up the Vespas to get to the bottom of this, they had already started investigating since they knew how much Izuku cared for these two and wouldn't take something like this lightly.
The building was stripped down by a group and they took everything of importance and cataloged everything inside to get as clear a picture as they possibly could of what went down.
Ten bodies had been found inside along with the unconscious double of Iguchi-San Dabi had mentioned, they'd locked the double up in a safe room and continued their search for clues.
They had also found a room where a bunch of the victims' stuff was spread out like trophies and was the only room that looked lived in, whereas the rest of the building was untouched aside from the room with the bodies.
And the general consensus was that the double was a serial killer that led naive people back to the building they lived in so they could stab and slash them all they wanted to without the police getting involved, and Iguchi-San was almost another one of their victims.
Which was horrible and he was so glad Dabi had managed to get there in time to help, he also felt god awful about everyone that had died before now because the Vespas had told him that the majority of the victims were either in middle or high school, and Izuku asked them to help collect files on the victims so their families could have some kind of closure.
The double's disguise melted off after a couple of hours and revealed a young and naked blonde girl maybe a year older than him at most and the Vespas had started looking into people who matched the girl's description, which had led them to finding one Toga Himiko.
The girl had run away after she had mauled a classmate the day before she would've graduated middle school, the interviews and police issued warnings of the girl weren't hard to find at all, though colored by some quirk biased Izuku was able to figure out enough facts about the case to understand what had actually happened that day.
Toga had slashed the throat of her classmate that the girl's peers believed she had a crush on, and she was caught drinking his blood directly from the wound with a straw, the unnamed boy had been very lucky Toga missed both of the arteries in the neck and had gotten help fast enough to not bleed out considering she had jabbed him with a box cutter multiple times.
And she had been missing ever since, until now and it seemed that Toga wasn't just running but had moved on to actually butchering people if the state of her victims' bodies were anything to go by.
Learning this made dealing with this situation a touch harder because according to Toga's quirk registry she had a quirk that had a blood dietary mark and if she wasn't drinking enough blood she could logically snap and do these things, but there were a few problems that kept Izuku from fully sympathizing with the girl.
Namely that the registry said she didn't need human blood and could survive on just animal blood, of course that could a lie and it wouldn't be the first time parents lied about their not being a "cannibal" or "vampire", but even if that were the case Toga should've come back to her senses once she had enough blood and be horrified by her actions after the first or second victim.
So Izuku asked the Vespas to try something to check if the registry was wrong.
Toga had been pretty co-operative after she woke up and Izuku promised to bring her plenty of blood every day which he did, along with secretly using the quirk of one of his students to get a complete print out of Toga's health daily, Izuku would take a few minutes to speak with her every day to try and get a better grip on her mentality during this time.
And in that week Izuku not once had Toga been sincere with him, she had been honest about how pretty she thought people were when they were in pain and bleeding, however when it came to the guilt or remorse about the people she killed it was all faked, well she genuinely missed becoming those people but that was about it.
Izuku has been around enough criminals to know the different between genuine remorse and when people faked it to gain sympathy, and Toga was leaning into that hard as she tried to manipulate Izuku into feeling sorry for her after her parents had starved her for so long on just animal blood, fully leaning into the idea Izuku purposely gave for her hunger driving her to killing others.
Getting a week of data Izuku told the Vespas to switch to feeding her solely animal blood to see if there was any difference in her medical results, and after a week there was no change in any of the numbers and Toga hadn't commented at all and didn't seem to notice the chance of the blood acting completely the same, something that confirmed the registry was correct in saying she did not need human blood.
He had tested one more thing, he took a pint of human blood and lied about it being pig blood and apologized about not having human blood on hand because of a made up accident, Toga's smile was tense and she thanked him for the blood, she looked disgusted as she took a sip and threw out the blood as soon as he left the room the Vespas kept her in, confirming without a doubt that Toga couldn't taste a difference and there wasn't any medical difference either.
Taking this knowledge Izuku set up a meeting with the Togas, Toga Himiko's parents via help from the Vespas in order to get a better idea of what her childhood was truly like, since Izuku didn't trust Toga to be an objective narrator of her past.
Toga Shingo was a cautious man and quite tense as he and his wife Mizuki sat across from Izuku, Himiko clearly took after her mother the most appearance wise though the woman was sallow and could hardly raise her head to meet anyone's eyes.
"They said you've found Himiko." Shingo commented and his wife's hands clenched tightly.
"Indeed, she tried to kill one of my friends. I haven't turned her in yet for personal reasons, and I have some questions for you about how she... became what she has now." Izuku confirmed with a slight nod.
"She's a psychopath." Mizuki replied almost emotionlessly "I'm mean, medically speaking. Our daughter Himiko was medically confirmed to be a psychopath, we still have the brain scans that confirm it." Mizuki clarified once she caught Izuku's look.
"From what I understand that test is a by-request screening. Why did you have your daughter tested in the first place?" Izuku asked and Mizuki shamefully ducked her head.
"Because my older sister and mother both were also psychopaths, Himiko was far more like those dreadful women than me and when she started acting like them I got scared... Both my mother and sister were dreadfully awful people and I'm still in therapy over for what did to me during my childhood." she explained a hand coming up to cover her eyes, Shingo's hand came up to rest on her shoulder.
"And when the doctor's confirmed she was, I... didn't handle it well, I couldn't separate Himiko from my sister no matter how much I tried to, and then there was that damn bird..." she confessed covering her face completely.
Shingo took over from there pushing his glasses up his nose "When Himiko was five she got her quirk and the... cravings started. The day she got her quirk she had gotten her hands on a wounded bird and drank it dry of its blood. My wife always loved birds and my, sister-in-law used to break her pet birds' necks and tease her with the bodies after she mutilated them for fun, so when Himiko showed off the dead bird... we didn't handle it well." the man elaborated for Izuku.
"And I wish I handled it better but Himiko's behavior never improved after we got her needs re-checked by a doctor when her quirk came in, even when she was being fed entire pints of blood she would hunt down birds or whatever animals she could get her hands on and would bite them multiple times as she drank from them." Shingo further explained, his wife flinching as he spoke.
"We discouraged the behavior, I'm sure you've heard how animal mutilation leads to violent people in the future, and I know predator quirks exist but they don't play around with their food like Himiko did, she enjoyed making the animals endure pain for a while before killing them." Shingo said clearly uncomfortable as he describe the event.
"We were strict with her, probably more than we should've in hindsight but we didn't want her to continue finding enjoyment from harming others and tried to teach her to restrain herself from attacking others, unfortunately as is very clear that didn't work out the way we hoped." Shingo confessed, clearly ashamed of this fact.
Izuku sighed internally letting his shoulders sag "I see, did she ever see a professional about these impulses?" he asked.
Shingo nodded "Yes, we had to try with a few people before we found someone that Himiko was comfortable with. And we thought she was doing better, she hadn't tried to bite someone since she was eight and wasn't tormenting the animals the two times she hunted something, Himiko was getting very close with the girls in her music club and talked about maybe starting a band with them." the man morosely answered.
"But then she attacked her classmate." Izuku guessed.
"Y-yes." Mizuki confirmed her voice cracking as she started silently crying, Shingo gently pulled Mizuki closer and started rubbing her back.
Izuku heart went out to them, they had made some mistakes in trying to parent Himiko but they were just doing their best like many of his well-meaning students tended to do, and Izuku could sympathize in a big way since trying to keep Toga from harming others or killing animals wasn't that far from him trying to steer his students to a less dangerous life style.
"I apologize Toga-San, I appreciate this must be very difficult for both of you." Izuku said pulling out his tissues and passing them over to Mizuki.
"Unfortunately, from my very limited understanding of psychology and the interactions I've had with Himiko, I believe she was likely always going to end up as she is now, regardless of your actions." Izuku told them hoping that something like that could have actually helped ease the pain.
"What do you mean?" Shingo questioned but Izuku got the distinct feeling they both knew what he was about to say.
"It is clear your daughter is a sexual sadist, which isn't inherently a bad thing per say, but in combination with her psychopathy and whatever personality disorder she has... her attacking people was a matter of when not if, and I don't believe that she will ever stop unless forced to." Izuku explained, and he hated saying that because deep down he wished that maybe she could get help to not be a threat to herself and others, but life doesn't always go the way you want it to.
Shingo sighed lowering his head "I wish you were the first person to say that." the man muttered.
"One of her therapists?" Izuku guessed getting a nod from Shingo.
"We- I didn't want to accept it, that our daughter was doomed to be some, some... " Mizuki said her hands shaking before she just dug them in her hair.
"I doubt any parent wouldn't want to just accept their child was going to end up a violent criminal regardless of the circumstances Toga-San." Izuku replied "However, that leaves us on what to do with Himiko and I'm afraid that simply handing her over to the police isn't an option." Izuku commented, much to their surprise.
"Why not?" Shingo questioned.
Izuku sighed "Himiko's quirk: Transform is very powerful if used correctly. As a minor with severe mental issues the courts will likely be more lenient with her, even if she was imprisoned for her crimes all it would take is one competent villain to hear about her abilities and take advantage of her. Anyone smart enough will see the worth of your daughter's quirk and that with a bit of training use her as the perfect spy and hitman." Izuku explained.
He could see both the H.P.S.C. and All For One both being very interested in Himiko for her quirk and the thought of them getting ahold of her or her quirk made him shiver.
"Then what are you going to do with her?" Shingo asked and Izuku hesitated.
"I have a friend who can help get Himiko quietly committed to a high-security insane asylum under a false name, which would be the safest option for keeping her locked up and out of the hands of those who'd want to use her." Izuku told him, he found the solution distasteful but it would be the best way to keep everyone safe.
Shingo nodded glancing at his wife, who was still shaken up and Shingo continued to silently console her.
The meeting hadn't lasted much longer after that and Izuku thanked them for meeting with him, then once they were gone he called up Yuri to arrange for Himiko to be moved, well after he explained and subsequently calmed the man down.
And today Yuri informed him that everything was ready, and now Izuku would need to confront Himiko in person.
Izuku stood from the desk and walked down a hall to the bunker they've kept with one of the Vespas, four more of them waiting for him "I'm going to enter alone, I don't want her to be any more suspicious of what we're going to do then she has to be." Izuku instructed taking the blood bag from one of them "It's been drugged like I asked?" he questioned.
"Yes Deku-Sensei." one of them replied and the five nodded.
Izuku exhaled and put on a simple smile as he knocked on the door before poking his head in.
Himiko was chewing on the arm of a stuffed chew toy he had given her a while back "Oh! Hiya Deku-Chan!" she cheerfully greeted with an exaggerated wave.
"Hi Miko-Chan!" Izuku responded with his own cheerfulness and had to repress a flinch as Himiko got up and tackled him with a hug, trying very hard not to freak out given what Himiko was "I brought you some extra blood Miko-Chan!" he told her showing off the bag and Himiko squealed.
Himiko snatched up the bag and she popped open the tab gleefully drinking it up, down it all in a few seconds and licking her lips "Mm, oh wow! That was super fruity Deku-Chan." Himiko commented eyeing him and Izuku chuckled.
"I thought it would, the lady we got the blood from had a quirk that let her make fruit from her blood, which I was really hoping you'd be able to taste." Izuku lied easily faking some excitement, it was regular cow's blood with quirked sleep powder mixed in.
And Himiko grinned at him, more or less baring her fangs as her face turned pink "Aww, you remembered how much I like fruit and got me special blood. You're so sweet to me Deku-Chan!" Himiko exclaimed hugging him again and nuzzling his face.
Izuku clenched his hands before he wrapped his arms around her to return the affection "It's no problem Miko-Chan." he told her with a slight laugh then went over to her bed and started talking with her about what she had done so far today.
After a minute though Izuku saw Himiko's eyes drooping "Are you sleepy Miko-Chan?" Izuku asked and she giggled "Nah, I just need to- to... " Himiko trailed off as she quickly was falling even faster asleep now that the quirk was affecting her.
Izuku reached out and guided Himiko into laying down "Sh, just breathe Miko-Chan, everything will be just fine." Izuku assured her and Himiko's eyes widened.
"Y-you, you did this!" she hissed and tried to smack him away.
Izuku didn't bother stopping her from striking him "Himiko you've drunk nothing but pig and cow blood for the last week, if you did need human blood you would have already shown signs of withdrawal, and like most people who don't need human blood in their diet you couldn't tell the difference between human and animal at all." he said, Himiko sharply inhaled and the shock was probably enough to keep her more alert.
"So I know you've been lying to me Toga, and that the only reason you killed those poor kids was all because of your guro fetish." Izuku coldly stated a little of his outrage with her peaking but Izuku quickly brought himself back and got up from Himiko's bed.
Izuku reached out for the door but paused when something hit his back and a thump sound, looking over his shoulder he saw the toy on the floor by him and Himiko had managed to get off the bed despite most of her body being limp "Y-you lair! You're just like my parents!" she whisper yelled from her place on the floor.
Izuku didn't move right away just staring at her "Probably, but if that means you never hurt anyone else ever again... then that's something that I just have to live with." Izuku replied then opened the door and let the four Vespas in to get her secure for transport.
Himiko screamed at them outraged and tried to bite the Vespas closest to her but the quirk made her too tired to properly fight back or do anything more than slurred threats before she passed out and got a pair of quirk bands on her, then the group of four carried the now unconscious Himiko out the room.
Izuku watched on slightly morose, deep down he knew this was probably what was going to happen but he had still selfishly wished that he was wrong and that maybe he could've helped the girl... but he couldn't help people who didn't want to change.
He nearly jumped when someone put a hand on his shoulder and looked down at the only Vespa that hadn't left with the group "Don't, dog yourself too much kid. Ya just doing what ya have to." she said before walking out of the room.
leaving Izuku alone with his thoughts as he pondered what he had just done, and Izuku decided that even though he was absolutely sure this had to be done to stop Himiko from attacking and killing people, condemning someone his own age to rot in an asylum just wasn't something he would ever feel good about... and he tried hard to remind himself that the pain in his chest was a good thing.
Because that pain meant he still cared and that was one of the few things that kept him human.
Okay, given my portrayal of Toga here, I feel the need to explain myself a bit and how long this will get I put the note down here.
I am aware she is a very popular villain and almost always redeemable in Fanon, but looking at her objectively I seriously doubt this.
Fanon usually makes her a more sympathetic character because they make her need to drink blood and that she attacks people out of need or because she's "quirky" being obsessed with blood after she turns good.
The big problem with this idea though is one major thing, well... two things really.
In her backstory we are told Toga's life from an outsider's pov, the sympathetic angle from curious which follows fanon's lines of thought where she was a victim of her strict parents abuse and snapped one day.
But Toga rejects curious's version of her life and says she's always been like this and isn't some victim.
And I don't think Toga is the best narrator of her life but actually looking at what the episode shows is that what she says here is true.
We don't have any real evidence of Toga's parents being abusive to her, the most we get is two clips and curious's speculation.
One where Toga shows them a bird she killed by drinking all of it's blood and they freak out, which is kind of reasonable since animals carry all kind of diseases and who wouldn't freak out when they see a todder basically eating a dead animal.
And the second is a clip where Toga's parents talk through an intercom after she attacked a kid nearly killing him and they called her a monster, which while harsh is understandable especially if this was actually taken after Toga started her killing spree and has a confirmed body count.
But even if she was abused that is no excuse for her killing people.
As for her victims, I think it is safe to say before she joined the league her victims were other kids in middle and highschool. Mainly because the school uniform she wears the first time we meet her isn't the same uniform and therefore mostly likely had to come from someone she killed, and despite her talent with a knife Toga isn't physically strong enough to over power the average adult and would probably only be able to lure dumb kids to her murder den.
And in case you forgot, Toga joined the league to kill more people, yes she came because of Stain but not because she followed his ideology, she just was super attacted to him because of all the bloodshed he caused and she wanted to kill and become him.
Then when it does mention she wants to change the world to be more accepting of people like her it's not as noble as people think it is, because she isn't talking about people drinking blood but her desire to butcher people, the world she wants to make is one where she is free to repeatly stab anyone she thinks is hot because the world currently doesn't accept the way she "loves" people.
Even in Fanon works she is still a stabby person obsessed with blood that everyone just treats as normal and play it off like her being a smoker or something.
At best if I really wanted wanted to push the sympathetic angle the best I could do is make her like the teen from Criminal minds s2 e11, where he was aware that his urges to attack and kill people were wrong and was very conflicted by his intense arousal fantasises of murdering people.
But then she'd still would need to be locked up and I would have to break from Toga's character to do that since despite how Fanon tries Toga doesn't care about killing people and is very into her sexual-sadism lifestyle.
Honestly, Toga reads more to me as the boy from Criminal minds s4 e21, someone who doesn't care about anything or person outside of her own basis view on them and her two closest relationships in the league were with Magne and Twice, two characters that were the social core of the group.
Because outside of the league who she techinally relies on, she sees people as either hot when their in pain (Izuku), are non-exsist, or is greatly annoyed by them (Shoji).
Her one major act of kindness that is shown on screen is when she helps Twice with his torn mask and personally I think that was only so they could get on with the mission and kidnap Eri and wreck Overhaul's base.
With all this in mind, I couldn't see a way to reabilitate Toga without making her ooc.
Dabi, Spinner and Magne just needed a touch of intervention before they turned villain to be decent people, and Bakugou is still an asshole but is willing to kick his own ass about it once he gets a vibe check from the adults.
But Toga clearly doesn't care that she is hurting people and wants everyone else to just deal with it because she should be allowed to "love" people however she likes.